Malcolm Brogdon, Senior, Virginia, Guard, 6’5, 215
(2014-15, 32.5 mpg) 14.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.7 tpg
42.2 FG%, 87.9 FT%, 34.4 3FG%, 54.5 TS%, 48.1 eFG%
25.9 USG%, 16.5 AST%, 1.5 STL%
DOB: 12/11/1992 (22) Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
2015 Second Team All-American
2015 First Team All-ACC
2015 ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year
2015 Pan American Games
The Watch List is not meant to replace full scouting reports and is only meant as a guide for who and what to watch for this upcoming season
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While a major contributor towards Virginia’s 60 wins over the last two seasons, Brogdon really had to step up his game during the second half of last season when Justin Anderson, an NBA first-round pick, was out for a month with a fractured finger, and Brogdon was rewarded for his efforts with a place on most major outlets’ All-American teams, as well as numerous ACC honors. Brogdon spent this summer playing for the United States in the Pan American Games on a roster filled with some other top NCAA seniors. At 6’5, Brogdon has decent size for the shooting guard position, as well as a solid build, and a 6’10 wingspan, which helps him as one of college basketball’s best defenders. Brogdon is an average perimeter shooter, though he has the tools to be much better. He has a smooth motion off the catch or the dribble, with a high, consistent release. Like many shooters, he is much better when he can step into his shot, though Virginia’s structured offense sometimes left him having to take any shot to beat the shot clock. He is a capable mid-range shooter, often using a shot-fake from behind the arc to draw his defender up, and then taking a couple of dribbles for the open look. Brogdon moves well without the ball, using screens well to set himself up for an open jumper, or making cuts to the basket when he sees a gap in the defense. Brogdon is an average ballhandler, though he was often used to bring the ball up for the Cavaliers, or to start or facilitate their offensive sets. While capable of attacking the basket with his left or his right hand, Brogdon doesn’t really have a good first step, or the speed to beat many defenders off the dribble. Also, when he does get into the lane area, he can be a bit careless with the ball, leaving it open to be picked by help defenders. Brogdon does a good job using his body around the basket to clear space for a shot, but he can have problems finishing against long defenders. Still, he is able to finish through contact, and he’s not afraid of initiating contact to try and get to the free throw line, where he is one of the country’s top free throw shooters. Brogdon sees the floor well when he has the ball, and is a good passer, both from the perimeter and off of penetration. He has also shown some ability as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, and while he doesn’t always make quick reads, he is patient enough to find open teammates in a good spot to score. Defensively, Brogdon is solid fundamentally, keeping good position and stance, and moving his feet well laterally. He doesn’t have great foot speed, and can be beat around corners, but he has a good idea of how to drive his man into the help, as well as using angles to force them away from the basket. Brogdon’s long arms help him as play passing lanes, or when he comes to trap the post or corners, as Virginia often likes to do. Brogdon is an average rebounder for his size, but he does a good job using his body to box out, and going strong after the ball.
What he needs to show this season: Brogdon has proven to be a perfect player in both Tony Bennett’s offense and defense, but there are still some key areas for him to improve. First, as a shooting guard, he needs to be a more consistent perimeter shooter. As I mentioned above, the tools are there, but polishing up his mechanics should allow him to get his shot off quicker, with longer range. Many of the other areas he could improve on would all be helped with improving his athleticism and foot speed. He lacks the burst to consistently beat defenders off the dribble, and even as one of the nation’s top perimeter defenders, he could be even better if he was able to move his feet quicker. Also, improving his ballhandling skills could help him to clear space for both his jumper and drives to the rim. He can be quick to stop a drive if he is cut off in one direction, not even attempting to crossover where he could have a clear path the other way. While this isn’t essential, it would help his game, and the threat could help him with some room for his perimeter shooting.
Where he fits at the next level: Obviously, as Anderson was last year, the Virginia system seems to limit how much Brogdon can show of his skill set, but glimpses are there, and his versatile role in the offense has given him a lot of experience that other shooting guards don’t often get. It will be Brogdon’s defensive abilities though that draw the attention of pro teams, and with his combination of understanding of team defense and skills, he has the makings of a player who can be a very good defender at the next level as well. As this draft gets closer, some may look to make an Anderson comparison, but they are different types of players; Brogdon is more skilled and Anderson is more athletic/explosive, though they do have a lot of other similar strengths from playing under Bennett. I expect Brogdon to finish off his college career in a big way, and he’ll get a lot of looks from NBA teams as the 2016 draft approaches.
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